help planning for 08 apps

[jeezy]

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I recently decided to go to dental school, and I'm applying for 2008 admission. I have finished all my coursework but have not taken the DAT or shadowed a dentist yet. I really want to go to UICs college and have pulled my info from their page

> The application cycle begins June 1, 2006

1. should i take my DAT in May? I've heard that it's okay to take it as late as Aug/early Sept.. this way would allow me to retake if I needed to.. Does AADSAS need my official score before I can submit applications? how long would that take?

> The College requires three letters of recommendation.
> We recommend submitting two academic references.

2. I read this to mean that the 3rd letter should come from a Dentist. Does it matter if I shadow an oral surgeon v general dentist? When do i need the letter by?

Thanks for any help! I'd like to have my apps in on the first day if possible

 

[jeezy]

ok, i've been looking on AADSAS and found out some good stuff, but i'd really like someones advice whos done this before

for 1.
You do not have to delay submitting an AADSAS application until you have taken the DAT; however schools will not consider your file complete.

...but I'm still not sure when is the best time to take the DAT. I'm assuming the sooner the better, even though I'm taking classes this semester will 2 months be enough time? (I studied for the MCAT last summer, would that make it any easier)

for 2.
If your letters arrive at AADSAS after your application has been processed, they will be mailed to the dental schools to which you have applied in their next mailing. AADSAS begins sending applications to the dental schools in June 2007.

...really cool service. Does this mean that I can get my shadowing done in June (after my DAT) and have it sent out by July without hurting my app status?

 

[Chrono1984]

ok, i've been looking on AADSAS and found out some good stuff, but i'd really like someones advice whos done this before

for 1.
You do not have to delay submitting an AADSAS application until you have taken the DAT; however schools will not consider your file complete.

...but I'm still not sure when is the best time to take the DAT. I'm assuming the sooner the better, even though I'm taking classes this semester will 2 months be enough time? (I studied for the MCAT last summer, would that make it any easier)

for 2.
If your letters arrive at AADSAS after your application has been processed, they will be mailed to the dental schools to which you have applied in their next mailing. AADSAS begins sending applications to the dental schools in June 2007.

...really cool service. Does this mean that I can get my shadowing done in June (after my DAT) and have it sent out by July without hurting my app status?

1) The best time to take the DAT is when you are ready and as early in the process as possible. Two months is enough if you really focus and regiment your time efficiently. The MCAT prep will not be very beneficial..especially since you did it 9 months ago.

2) Not really sure what your asking. But AADSAS and cool service should not be used in the same sentence.

If you know how long you will be shadowing, you can project the hours (eg, shadowing through august, just figure out how many hours per week/month and tally it up). So you can still submit in May/June even though you won't technically be 'done' shadowing.

You can submit your app before getting your LORs in; but no school will review your file until the letters arrive. You can also circumvent AADSAS altogether for LORs and just send them directly to the schools.

Good Luck.

 

[l2suture]

1) The best time to take the DAT is when you are ready and as early in the process as possible. Two months is enough if you really focus and regiment your time efficiently. The MCAT prep will not be very beneficial..especially since you did it 9 months ago.

2) Not really sure what your asking. But AADSAS and cool service should not be used in the same sentence.

If you know how long you will be shadowing, you can project the hours (eg, shadowing through august, just figure out how many hours per week/month and tally it up). So you can still submit in May/June even though you won't technically be 'done' shadowing.

You can submit your app before getting your LORs in; but no school will review your file until the letters arrive. You can also circumvent AADSAS altogether for LORs and just send them directly to the schools.Good Luck.

See, I don't really understand this. Does this mean that the earlier your pre dent committee writes your rec letters and send them to schools earier, the better? Meaning, you can have everything completed and filed through AADSAS but will not be complete because the committee takes too long in sending the letters? Please help and put me out of this confusing misery.

 

[Chrono1984]

See, I don't really understand this. Does this mean that the earlier your pre dent committee writes your rec letters and send them to schools earier, the better? Meaning, you can have everything completed and filed through AADSAS but will not be complete because the committee takes too long in sending the letters? Please help and put me out of this confusing misery.

Even if you submit your AADSAS app on May 15th, by the time you get all of your transcripts in and verified, your committee letter should be done and sitting at every school (assuming you didn't send it to AADSAS).

Your AADSAS application will NOT be held up due to LORs. This is the one section that is not required by them - it is optional. If you are getting a committee evaluation, don't bother with AADSAS, just have it sent directly.

My committee evaluation was sent to the schools in early July. I submitted my AADSAS application in early June, but they didn't actually mail it until August 4th.

AADSAS is not lightning quick by any stretch of the imagination. MANY dental schools do not even begin looking at applications until late august so your committee letter really shouldn't hold you back.

Every committee is different; but from my experience, it is AADSAS that slows up the application process - nothing else.

 

[jeezy]

so, should i not use AADSAS's LOR service? Right now my school has a LOR service, but I'll be done there in May and dont think I can use them over summer/fall.

I already have 2 science teachers that are willing to help me out, but I have to get a dentist.. so I could work on getting AADSAS my letters by late June

 

[widsmtooth29]

1) The best time to take the DAT is when you are ready and as early in the process as possible.

Good advice. Better to take the DATs in August when you are ready then to do poorly on them in July. Plus, I think you can only take the DAT once every 3 months so make sure to do awesome on it the first time. In my interview at Penn I was told that they hands down prefer to see a student with a 20/20/20 on their first DAT than a person with a 22/22/22 who had to retake the DAT to score higher. Penn thinks that doing it right the first time shows maturity and dedication to excellence. When people ask me for advice I always suggest to do the DAT right once than poorly a bunch of times. Good luck!

 

[dentin4years]

Thanks everyone! I am applying too next year and will be reading a lot of SDN!